Parole – a privilege for offenders
Being on parole is a privilege for offenders, not a right as some may think.
MBOMBELA – Being on parole is a privilege for offenders, not a right as some may think.
This was stated during the recent traditional leaders and the department of correctional services Indaba held on November 8.
The board pays specific attention to the following facts before considering releasing an offender out on parole: The type of crime committed, length of the sentence, gravity of the offence and the circumstances within which it was committed, conduct of the offender, offender’s adaptation to life in correctional service, progress made with the sentence plan in respect of treatment and development programmes, availability of support systems within the community and whether restorative justice had taken place or not.
It was also mentioned that regardless of the time an offender had spent in a correctional service centre, he or she may not be released on parole if the prisoner poses a threat or danger to the community, has repeatedly shown that he or she does not wish to or cannot comply with the conditions of conditional release. An offender cannot be released if he does not comply with the expectations of the sentence plan and cannot adapt to the life in a correctional centre or displays unacceptable behaviour.
